The Rise of Bingo Apps: Playing on the Go

Back in the day there was one way to play bingo - you found out when the local community hall was running a bingo night, then went ahead and enjoyed the game on the specific time and date. This turned bingo into a weekly affair where you could meet your friends and enjoy a cuppa as well as play, but it did limit when you could enjoy the game. 

That was a far cry from today, as now you can play bingo anytime at your favourite online bingo casino. You can even play bingo literally anywhere thanks to the power of bingo apps! We use smartphones for just about everything after all, so why not our favourite game? Not familiar bingo apps? Then don’t worry, as we’re going to tell you all about bingo apps and how they’re one of the best ways to play and have fun. 

The Digital Evolution of Bingo 

Bingo has come a long way since the 16th century, when it was known as the Italian “Gioco del Lotto.” First it evolved into the game of bingo we know and love by the late 19th century, before it turned into a British institution that brought communities together in the post-war period. However bingo’s fortunes took a downturn in the 21st century, as rising costs and declining player numbers led to the closure of many a bingo hall. 

But that wasn’t the end of the bingo story, as the internet came to the rescue. Online bingo sites first started showing up in the mid 1990s, and quickly grew in popularity thanks to their quick gameplay and live chat functionality. The rise of smartphones in the 2010s led bingo software studios to create dedicated apps for iPhones and Android devices. These further improved on bingo sites through touch controls and optimised visuals, making them a great means to play online bingo while on the go! 

What are Bingo Apps?

Bingo apps are, perhaps, self-explanatory - they are mobile applications designed for online bingo games. Simple, right? As such they play like regular online bingo, only with enhanced visuals and touch controls making the marking of numbers, not to mention purchase of tickets, easier on small smartphone displays. Bingo apps come in two main categories, real money bingo and social bingo.

Real money bingo is just like what it sounds like, in that it’s bingo played for money. You have to pay a set cash amount for a ticket, and in turn you can take a chance at winning real money prizes. These apps are considered as gambling, and as such are regulated by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) here in the UK. Social bingo apps, on the other hand, can be played for free. They are typically available through social media apps, and offer an experience that's more based around fun and communication with other players rather than prizes. 

What Makes Bingo Apps so Popular?

Bingo apps are arguably even more convenient than online bingo sites. Whereas online bingo requires you to be seated on your laptop or desktop PC, with apps you can play on your smartphone anytime, anywhere. This is a far cry from the old days, when your playing bingo depended on whether a game was taking place at the local hall. You could be anywhere, from the train to the doctor’s office or even simply in bed, and a bingo game will be just a tap away thanks to your smartphone and app. 

Playing on an app doesn’t mean you lost the social aspect of bingo, mind. On the contrary bingo apps replicate the community feel of the game through live chat, leaderboards, and regular events. This means you can interact with other players and talk with them, leading one to form friendships that sometimes can span continents.  

Bingo apps are both convenient and social, but what about the game itself? There’s good news on that front as well, as bingo apps bring an enhanced experience complete with a user friendly interface and crisp visuals. Many apps take the experience a step further with the addition of custom avatars and daubers, not to mention gamified features such as experience points, levels, daily login bonuses, and achievements designed to keep the game fresh for a long, long time. 

The Technology Powering Bingo Apps

You might be curious about the technology behind your favourite bingo apps. We were for sure, and this is what we found in our investigation:

Random Number Generators

A Random Number Generator (RNG) is a way for any gambling game such as bingo to generate random results. The RNGs running any bingo app worth its salt is certified to ensure its randomness, meaning every draw is as fair as it gets. 

The Cloud

The term “cloud” refers to the servers that are actually running the games available at your favourite bingo or casino site. This technology is particularly clever since it stores all your activity on your bingo account, regardless of whether you’re playing on an app or PC. This way you can log into your app in the morning for a quick game, then get to your home PC in the evening for a game on the same account with your user data seamlessly synched between devices. 

Secure Payments

You will want your user data truly secured if you’re playing with real money. This is where secure payment gateways come into play. These use the latest encryption technologies to protect your financial data from any prying eyes with less than noble intentions. 

Artificial Intelligence 

Last but not least, artificial intelligence (AI) is getting more of a role in bingo apps and sites. It allows for more personalisations through game recommendations based on your activity, as well as detect cases of problem gambling and even fraudulent accounts, helping the operators behind the site bring you a safer experience for all. 

How to Choose the Right Bingo App

There are plenty of bingo apps out there, which means finding the one that’s right for you can prove a bit daunting. However there’s no need to worry as we have a few points that should get you in the right direction! 

• First off make sure the bingo app and its operator are properly licensed. In the case of us Brits this needs to be issued by the UKGC. Playing at an unlicensed bingo site is not only illegal, it can lead to risks such as unpaid winnings and even unsecured financial data. 
• Bingo apps should be easy to use, so always test out an app before committing the cash in order to ensure that you can play it right. 
• Many bingo providers use promotions such as free tickets in order to attract new players. These can be great fun but always read their terms and conditions carefully! 
• If you know friends who already play bingo online ask them which sites and apps they use. Bingo is a community game after all, and the players’ friendliness (or lack of) can make or break your experience. 
• Make sure the app has Responsible Gaming tools like deposit and time limits in order to help you play bingo responsibly. 

The Impact of Apps on Traditional Bingo

There’s no denying that the rise of online bingo has hit the traditional bingo hall, and not always for the better. While one can point out the growing popularity of in-person bingo, halls just cannot compete with the convenience of the online experience. Bingo apps only exacerbate this factor as they make playing a session of bingo easier than ever. Just log into your app and you’ll find a game right at your fingertips!

However there’s something to be said about the aforementioned growth of in-person bingo. The bigger bingo halls now have their own branded apps, some of which allow for remote participation in events. Some even run a hybrid model with players participating simultaneously in in-person and online games. Here the online and real-life versions of the game work hand in hand to bring a better experience to all of us bingo fans! 

It’s’ a Great Time to Play with Bingo Apps!

Bingo apps bring a new level of convenience and ease to the bingo experience, allowing you to play anytime, anywhere on your smartphone or tablet. Ease of use is enhanced through slick, touch-friendly controls, while quick game rounds allow you to take a bingo break whenever it’s most convenient for you. Of course always play on licensed bingo apps, and remember to play responsibly by using the app’s included tools. Have fun playing bingo while on the go, and do let us know which apps are your favourites!